Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-02-24
u, The Joint Assembly.


reiterated the charges heretofore made by
him of undue influence, corruption OF votes
and the press by Mr.. Camden and was replied
to by senator Sommerville and Delegate
Kidd. They banded Mr.. Lucas without
gloves. We p Pi &c for few extracts,
only:
Senator Sommeryille said, after stating
that be had not written speech nor AT.
tempted to in 'ge in a display OF oratory;'
Il shall take ~ these charges in the or
der in which were made by the gen
tlem4n from J, on. The gentleman tells
lis he Is not here TO discuss private charac-
Ter. and vet, sir, his whole haransue has
been an effort to blacken and destroy the
private character and reputation OF dis
tinguished member of his own political
party. and 60 escape responsibility Tor so
doing by hiding behind the pretense that
he is discharging the public acts OF pub
lie officer.
"Thc gentleman says that it Is reported
that votes have been bought. This, sir,
NAV mean that money was used to corrupt
the voters of the State in the election at
which the members of this Legislature
were chosen. or it may mean direct charge
of bribery against those members OF the
LEGISLATURE who have been voting for SEN
ator Camden. and call upon the gentle
man here and now to say which he means"
NIr. Lucas--"I made no charge against
the members of the legislature
Mr.. S0mmeryile.-"Ih Mr. PRESIDENT,
this statement will narrow the discussion
somewhat. Now, sir, | want to know from
the gentleman or from any other gentleman
here whose vote was bought or who bought
a vote at thc last election, II anybody WIN
in the sound of my voice knows OF single
vote which was purchased or sold, or sin
Gle person who purchased or sold vote at
that election. Let him stand up here ana
let Us have a look at him. Or If any one
knows of "a newspaper either Democratic
or Republican. which was purchased at
the last election or which has been pur-
chased or corrupted during this contest for
the United States Senate, let him proclaim
il now. pause for reply. But / hear
none.
"But the gentleman says these charges
have been made by the Republicans and
/ talked about the streets. What Republi-
cans. ask has made them What mem
Der of that party is ready or able to point
10 q single instance in which money has
been improperly or corruptly used, or who
is ready 10 assume responsibility Tor these
statements? II will not do, sir, for the gem
/ tlemcn 20 make such charges and lnslnua-
| tions and then to seek TO escape RESPONSE
I bi.ity for them by repeating the campaign
ISLANDERS, set in circulation by certain mem
/ bers of the Republican party during the
progress OF hard and exciting campaign.
| And | want to say further that 1t IS not the
/ man that plays i'm the game, and cries fraud
when fairly beaten, who is most scrupulous
I i'm the methods he employs, or Is most Ike
/ lv to deal fairly and honestly with an hon
/ est adversary.
Now. sir as to the Independent candl-
/ dates who were elected TO the Legislature.
| This charge is twofold, or rather 1t Is gen
orally put in the alternative either that
/ Senator Camden used money to elect them
over regular Democratic nominees that
were opposed to him, or that he mas cor
ruptcd them bv the use of money since their
election. There is, sir, but one lndepen-
dent in the Legislature and that Is the gen
I tleman from Wyoming, Mr. Cook | am
/ informed by gen 'cman living in an adj
/ Joining county tat the gentleman from
/ Wyoming was elected over a Democrat who
WAS an open and avOwed advocate OF the
reelection of Senator Camden. Does the
gentleman from Jefferson charge, then, that
/ Mr.. Camden used money to procure the
defeat of his own candidate for the Legs
/ lature? But take the other form OF the
charge that Mr. Camden has corrupted these
independents since their election. The
/ gentleman from Wyoming voted for Mr..
/ Camden on the first ballot that was taken
| for United States Senator and since then he
voted for another person every time. Now,
sir if Mr.. Camden corrupted him how does
! il come that he is not voting for Mr.. Cam
den? And again. if he has been corrupted,
ha, every Democrat for whom he has voted
including the President Of the Court OF APP
peas. taken a part in that. corruption
/ This charge, sir, Is in keeping with all the
Others and is as groundleSs as the 'basees-
/ fabric of q vision.
Another charge is that the Capitol OF the
State ha, been visited by Federal otiiceholders
who are advocating the reelection of Mr.. Cam
den. The gentleman fails TO mention the
( llrre lobby made up largely of disappolnt-
. ed applicants for federal offices who are here
/ opu0sing the election of Mr.. Camden. liza
man who has sought federal office and failed
90 get 10 has right 20 come here ana oppose
the return OF Mr.. camden TO llc cehale- upon
what principle can the gentleman object 10 the
successful applicants advocating that election
Isa man 10 lose his political identity and be
driven into obscurity and scclusion, and be de-
prived of the rights of citizenship, because he
holds a federal office?
Now word as 20 the Standard Oil COmpa-
nv 4 stranger coming for the first time into
the hall during the delivery OF the gentleman :
/ speech would probably come 20 the conclusion
that this intangible corporation was actually q
candidate for United States Senator. Now
/ want 90 saw that the home of the Standard on
! COMPANY is I'm Cleveland Ohio. II Is 4 foreign
/ corporation without an office and almost with
/ ont a LEGAL existence i'm the State of West Viz
/ ainia Mr. Camden never held an office or o.
Their position under il i'm ms life, and never had
ANYTHING 20 do with the management il. II
/ is true lac owns some of the stock, but who j.
here that would not own some of that stock II
he could do So I'm any honest or legitimate way.
Further than that, Mr.. Camden Is not connect
cd with or responsible for the management OF
any oil company an existence.
Mr. Flournoy-" What about the Camden
Consolidated OIL Company
Mr. Sommerville-" Mr.. Camden was former
I IN Vice President of that Company, but gave
up his position shortly after his election to the
/ senate. and has had nothing TO do with the
I management of il since. But sir, neither OF
these companies has ever had any interest IN
| legislation. either i'm West Virginia or IN the
Congress of the United States They have ne
verasked foran enlargement of their corporate
powers. rights or franchises, either at the hand,
of the Legislature of this State or in Congress
I Ncr has amy uroDOSitiOn ever been made in ri.